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Akeno

After a day of culture in beautiful Kyoto we visited Akeno, our first JGSDF (Ground Self Defence Force) field. This very open field offers great views of the apron and the exercise field where helicopter pilots do their training manoeuvres. The fence at the spot we stayed is 1 meters high, so no problems here. Besides the army, there is also a Coast Guard station.

31297 / XIIH, OH-6

41866, UH-1

73477 / IIIATH, AH-1

41865, UH-1

73477 / IIIATH, AH-1

73477 / IIIATH, AH-1

31297 / XIIH, OH-6

73477 / IIIATH, AH-1

41866, UH-1

41866, UH-1

41872, UH-1

73477 / IIIATH, AH-1

41866, UH-1

32601 / TE, OH-1

31199 / X, OH-6

JA9562 / MH562, Bell 212

The prototype (cn 001) Kawasaki OH-1 could be seen inside one of the hangars. This helicopter was developed to replace the OH-6 as a military scout/observation helicopter.

Gifu

Today the weather was awful again, so Gifu wasn’t a success. Also viewing opportunities on this air field are very limited. So our backup program was the Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum. Highlight in this museum is the prototype of the Asuka STOL transport aircraft and the UF-XS flying boat.

19-5173, T-2

61-5221, T-33

8501, NAL Asuka

8501, NAL Asuka

8501, NAL Asuka

8501, NAL Asuka

9911, UF-XS

51804 / IB, KV107

JA9093, SA.316

JA8731, YS-11

9078, US-1

9078, US-1

4782, P-2

JA8626, MU-2

JA9053, Kawasaki 369

Nagoya

There is not much civil traffic anymore at Nagoya Komaki, since the opening of Japan Central Airport, on an artificial island south of the city in Ise Bay.

There is an official observation area, left of the terminal building. Not sure if it was already there in 2006, but we didn’t visit it. Now a days the JASDF 767 tankers are based here, together with 401 Hikotai C-130s.

JA121N, Beech 200

JA207J, CRJ-200

JA207J, CRJ-200

95-1083, KC-130

JA203J, CRJ-200

We didn’t visit Nagoya’s new Central Airport, as we were headed for Japan Alps National Park and Matsumoto Castle.

Utsonomiya

A beautiful day which we started at the Utsonomiya Ground Self Defence Force Open House. Most of JGSDFs inventory was shown and flying.

21-5062, T-400

39-3042, U-125

18-1031, C-1

6904, YS-11

68-4564, UH-60

68-4564, UH-60

JA09TG, Bell 412

JA6181, Fuji 205

JA6810, BK117

41846, UH-1

22016 / SU, LR-1

CH-47

32619 / IIATH, OH-1

32619 / IIATH, OH-1

32619 / IIATH, OH-1

41897 / VII, UH-1

41806, UH-1

43118 / SK, UH-60

43118 / SK, UH-60

43114, UH-60

43122, UH-60

43118 / SK, UH-60

43118 / SK, UH-60

UH-60

73467 / IVATH, AH-1

73467 / IVATH, AH-1

31212 / SU, OH-6

OH-6

OH-6

52901 / XIIH, CH-47

CH-47

52901 / XIIH, CH-47

52901 / XIIH, CH-47

52901 / XIIH, CH-47

Misawa

Next was Misawa, our most Northerly stop, as we didn’t visit Hokkaido. In the morning we stayed on the viewing terrace on top of the civil terminal. This gives good views over runway 28 and the scramble hangar. Luckily lots of movements during our stay, F-4, F-2, T-4 and USAF F-16 Wild Weasels.